Prince of Persia: The Chronicles of the Prince
Book I: The Awakening of the King
Chapter 2
Start of Something New
The Prince awoke to rocks tumbling down to the stone street. He had not been able to make it back to his palace. He pulled off the tattered piece of cloth he had used for warmth the night before. He stood up from the filthy ground, feeling like a street rat. He tried to remember what had happened the previous night. He remembered Farah and he walking back from the terrace. He remembered kissing her before falling into a deep slumber that he had not done in many a years. He looked around, taking in everything from the toppled ruin of the buildings, to the bright sun in the brilliant blue sky. Farah was not beside him.
"Farah!" He called out, his voice echoing through the city.
He took off running; there was no answer from her. He turned away from his "sleeping quarters" and ran around the corner. Still nothing. He turned another corner of smoldered building. There he saw her, her beautiful body standing still, but her long silky hair flowing through the morning breeze. Her bow drawn and aimed steady, THWAP! An arrow diced through the water. A large fish erupted to the surface.
"Nice shot!" The Prince yelled through the air with a smirk on his face.
Farah turned to face the Prince. She gave him a smile and then jumped from the boulder she had stood upon. She struggled through the incoming tide and picked up her prize before the sea foam monster could swallow it whole. The Prince walked up to Farah and greeted her with a kiss. She looked up into his big blue eyes, and he into hers.
"I couldn't find you," he said "I feared the worst."
"I woke up not too long ago, I decided to scavenge for food. One of you villagers gave me the idea to fish." She finished with a giggle.
They took the fish over to a nearby rock, under one of the magnificent palm trees of Babylon. The sun felt warm against the cool breeze blowing off of the ocean water. The Prince carefully removed the arrow that had pierced through both sides of the fish, an excellent shot. He then took the arrow and slit the stomach of the bass. Both Farah and he were starved from not eating that they tore apart the fish, and it was diminished within minutes.
They rose after they had finished, and they strode down the sparkling sand that lined the edge of the ocean. They need not be afraid of the sands no longer. The Dagger was gone and the Sands locked away within Kaileena's spirit. He could enjoy life once again. He would become King of Persia, and he would make all better, or would he.
There is no way I could be as great a ruler as my father was before me. He knew exactly what to do in every situation, but that only led him to death.
He pondered on as they walked, hands held, down the beach. Neither said a word. The Prince looked up when he heard faint voices on the air. They continued walking until they came to a group of villagers, mostly men, but a few women in the crowd. The group was clearing the streets of the Prince's city. They all turned to face the honorable Prince.
"All hail the brave and mighty Prince of Persia!" the Old Man yelled to the crowd. It was the same man that had helped the Prince and gave him advice before he ventured to the Island of Time. The same man that told him he would die, but the Prince had proved him quite wrong.
The crowd erupted. Cheers and tears sounded from the villagers. Gratefulness and mourning swept the city. The Prince walked through the crowd and ventured up to the Old Man.
"Good morning Prince, it is an honor to be in your presence after what you have done for Babylon, for the world."
"All in a days work my friend." The Prince said with a chuckle as he patted the man's shoulder. "Everything is back to normal and we shall start reconstruction of the city as soon as we are able.
"We have already begun." The Old Man said while gesturing over to the Prince's left. The streets were clear and the homes were being scrubbed of dirt. The damage to the buildings was not a lot and they were looking almost new. "You will find that about a fourth of the city has been swept and the damage is near gone."
"When did you have time to do all of this?" the Prince asked in astonishment.
"You of all people should know that anything could be done when faced against Time."
The Prince smirked. He did know this was true, more so then he wanted to. He still would not forgive himself for unleashing the Sands upon his kingdom. He put on a fake smile.
"Something bothering you, my Prince?" the Old Man asked.
"We will talk about it some other time." He replied and patted the man on the shoulder once again, before walking towards Farah. He stood there staring at her, a smile upon his face. She turned.
"What is it Prince?" she asked with a giggle.
"Umm…nothing, can you believe what they have accomplished today?" he replied.
Farah shook her head in disbelief. She could not understand how they had done it either. She eyed the Prince as he stepped forward and put his hand upon the cool stone of the home he was standing before. When he was done expecting, he turned around and walked up to the Old Man once again.
"This is amazing work, but I am afraid we will have to hold on the excitement." The Prince said in a saddened tone.
"What ever for?" the Old Man asked.
"We must plan a ceremony, and a burial. Many of my people have died because of what I have done. Many people have fallen by my hand."
"Those were not your people Prince, they were transformed by the Sands of Time. You had no other choice." The Old man said sharply, but reassuringly.
"They were still my people! I killed them!" The Prince rose up, furious, "It does not matter if they were tainted by the Sands, they were all once human."
"If they all disappeared when the Vizier was killed, what is the burial for?"
"The people who died fending off those retched creatures so Farah and I could escape," the Prince sighed heavily, "and my father."
"You're father, the King of Persia. You know this means that you will be King?"
The Prince hung his head low. He did know what it meant, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to lead these people. Farah grasped his arm and wrapped hers around his.
"Yes, he knows…and I will be sitting right next to him as he begins rule over Babylon."
She smiled at the Prince, his eyes lit up. He turned his head to face her.
"You will?" he asked.
"What, were you not expecting that Prince?" Farah asked staring deeply into his eyes. The Prince smirked.
"Not at all." He said laughing.
"You're the worst." She said laughing while her and the Prince walked off to his throne room.
How is it that even when I'm down, Farah seems to lift my spirits. It is not time to think of this now. There is preparation to be done in the honor of my people.